Even the heaviest library user will tell you that there are some books that are so good, you have to own them. For me, this usually comes after I have checked out a book from the library, sometimes just once—often many times—until I wear my frugality down and buy it

My boss swung a half-empty bottle of white wine in front of my face like she was trying to hypnotize me with it. “You don’t ever miss this?” she asked. The rest of the staff looked at me awkwardly. Some of them knew that I was sober, most of them were figuring it out now.